2024 ALASKA BEARS PHOTO TOUR | ALASKA WILDLIFE

June 22-28, 2024

Lake Clark National Park | Alaska



Brown Bear with a cub in Alaska near the water.

This exclusive, private Brown Bear Photo Tour will fly you into the backcountry of Alaska to spend 5 days on the coast with Brown Bears and other Alaska Wildlife. This experience is one of a kind as you'll be able to watch bears in their natural habitat with 22 hours of daylight each day. All bears. All day. No lines.

You'll settle into the rhythms of the Alaskan wilderness with beautiful vistas and stay in cozy cabins. On this workshop we'll have professional bear guides to ensure safety and success in capturing the images you're after.

Professional photography instructors Joe Garza and Nick Selway will be there to make sure you are able to capture these majestic creatures and Alaska landscapes so you can go home with incredible photos and unforgettable memories.


Alaska Bear Photography Workshop Information

Brown Bear standing in the water in Alaska

Dates: June 22-28, 2024

Group Size: Limited to 10 people

Cost: $8,000

Deposit: 50% deposit due at the time of registration which can be completed at the bottom of this page.

Included: Lodging, permits, meals in the backcountry, bear guides, transportation; As much laughter as possible and our wealth of photo knowledge making sure we put everyone in the best possible locations for light and compositions to capture their own stunning wildlife and landscape images.

Not Included: Airfare from your home to Anchorage and back, meals in Anchorage, gratuities for instructors and guides.

Booking: The workshop will need to be paid in full 90 days prior to the day the workshop begins. Refunds are not available after the 90 day mark unless we can find another person to fill your spot.


Alaska Brown Bears Photography Workshop Highlights

Grizzly bear in a meadow in Alaska during the Alaska Brown Bear Photo Workshop by Light Chasing Photo Tours
  • Premier location to observe and photograph majestic coastal brown bears in their natural habitat
  • Private, exclusive access to take photographs with no crowds or lines. We will be the only group in this area for the entire trip and have it completely to ourselves.
  • 3 Meals a day prepared by a professional chef
  • Other wildlife that may include moose, wolves, foxes, eagles, and black bears
  • Opportunity for Alaskan bush plane photography
  • Stunning views for beautiful Alaska landscape photography
  • Interesting stories, local history and wildlife facts from your friendly guide

Alaska Bear Photography Workshop Schedule

Grizzly bear sniffing the air in a green meadow with green trees in the background and pink flowers in front.

Day 1 - Arrive in Anchorage: Accommodations and shuttle from airport to hotel included. We'll have a group welcome meeting and dinner (meal not included).

Day 2 - Journey to the Backcountry: After breakfast we'll take ground transportation to the bush plane airport, get to our location and head out to the field to start observing in the afternoon.

Day 3-6 - Daily Schedule: Breakfast in the lodge at 7 then bear viewing all day with lunch in the field or back at the lodge. After dinner we'll head out for an evening stroll to see more bears or a beach bonfire.

Day 7 - Wrap up, head back to Anchorage: Breakfast and morning bear viewing. Check out at 11 and fly back to mainland, ground transportation back to Anchorage where you'll be dropped off at the airport or hotel (accommodations not included).

Each day we'll create a relaxed, fun and enjoyable atmosphere for a incredible experience. You will gain confidence in taking your photography skills to the next level a have a lot of laughs and fun on this bucket list adventure!

Three bears in the water during an Alaska Brown Bears Photo Workshop.

Lodging, Travel & Transportation | Alaska Brown Bear Photo Workshop

You'll fly in to Anchorage where you'll spend the first night of the workshop. Lodging is included for this stay and details on which hotel are yet to be determined. Lodging before the first night of the workshop is not included so if you choose to arrive early you're responsible for your own accommodations.

Lodging the backcountry will be in cabins that sleep 4-6 people. However, we anticipate no more than 4 people per cabin. Linens and pillows are provided. There is also a day lodge for gathering and meals.

Travel: You'll fly into Anchorage and a shuttle will bring you to your hotel.

Transportation: Transportation from the hotel to the flight office is included as is the bush plane flight to and from Tuxedni Bay.

Image of food, planes, and lodging for the Alaska Bears Photography Workshop

Difficulty of Workshop and Recommended Gear

Clients walking along the shores in Alaska.

We will be taking some hikes with mild elevation gains. Hikes may be on soft, uneven or slippery terrains and may be up to 3 miles. Our shooting areas will give you the most remote breathtaking views to enhance your experience. The following clothing and equipment are recommended for this Alaska Brown Bears Workshop.

  • Snacks and a water bottle that can be refilled at cabins
  • Waterproof rain jacket and pants
  • Bring layers for varied weather conditions
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Rubber boots and hip waders are provided but you can bring your own if you prefer
  • Cash or Venmo for gratuities for instructors and/or guides

Recommend Camera Gear | Alaska Brown Bear

Photography Workshop

Grizzly bear running out of the water in Alaska.
  • Camera gear recommended but not limited to:
  • DSLR or mirrorless camera
  • Recommended lens 16-35mm, 24-70mm,70-200mm,100-600mm, macro lens, if desired
  • Solid tripod with ballhead
  • Remote shutter release
  • Filters (Circular Polarizing Filter, Graduated ND Filters and Solid ND filters for long exposures)
  • Memory Cards
  • Extra camera batteries
  • Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc.


Instruction Provided During the Bear and Wildlife Photography Workshop Includes:

Brown Bear in a meadow filled with pink flowers.
  • A guided photography tour of Alaska backcountry with coastal brown bears and other wildlife in their natural habitat
  • Shooting in manual mode (Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, depth of field)
  • Lens selection for composition and lighting
  • Creating stunning compositions (rule of thirds and simplicity)
  • Finding foreground elements
  • Capturing grand landscape photos
  • Creating intimate, abstract images
  • Creating panoramic images
  • Filters - how and when to use them
  • Focus stacking, bracketing, histogram usage
Brown bear sitting at the water's edge and looking at the camera


Alaska Brown Bear & Wildlife Photography Workshop



CANCELLATION POLICY

The workshop must be paid in full 90 days prior to the day the workshop starts. Client cancellations prior to 90 days before the workshop will be eligible for a full refund or transfer of funds paid to another workshop. Refunds are not available after the 90 day mark unless we can find another person to fill your spot.

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance to cover such costs.



THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

JOE GARZA

Joe Garza | Light Chasing Photo Tours Instructor

Born and raised in Westland, Michigan, Joe has always had a passion for photography. It started while serving in the United States Navy in the early 90's when his travels brought him all over the world. He was able to turn his passion into his profession and continues to focus on bringing you amazing images through his collection of images from National Parks, Hawaii, and the U.S. from the east coast lighthouses, Colorado mountains, and canyons and deserts across the southwest. Joe resides in Madison, Wisconsin with with his 3 children.




NICK SELWAY

Nick Selway | Light Chasing Photo Tours Instructor

Born and raised in Lake Stevens, Washington along the Northern Cascade Mountains, he grew a profound appreciation for the natural world at a young age. He spent his childhood traveling and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his family as his love for mother nature grew. He has been photographing for the last 18 years. He'd lived in Kailua Kona, Big Island of Hawaii for the last 14 years where he ran 2 photography galleries "Lava Light Galleries" and did photo tours to the volcano and around the island. In 2018 Nick moved with his beautiful wife Sarah Buzzetti and embarked on a new journey his lifelong dream by opening his very own photography gallery on June 1st, 2018 located on main street in Breckenridge, Colorado. He currently travels up to 150 days a year photographing mother nature’s beauty and teaching a variety of photography workshops.